General Programmatic Funding Requirements

A. Core Contract

Applicants must acknowledge and ensure ability to comply with all applicable terms and conditions of The Trust core contract and its attachments.

B. Children with Disabilities and Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

The Trust expects all funded service providers to meet the federal standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act. By policy, Trust providers must implement reasonable programmatic accommodations to include children with disabilities and their families, whenever possible. Requirements for each initiative are included in the specific funding opportunity.

Typically, services are funded for youth through age 18. However, youth with disabilities who have not attained a standard diploma and who continue attending classes guided by an Individual Education Plan (IEP) are eligible to participate in programming up to age 22.

In addition, youth transitioning out of foster care may be served up to: (1) age 21 if receiving services through the My Future, My Choice extended care option; and (2) age 23 if participating either in the Florida Road to Independence (RTI) or Postsecondary Educational Services and Support (PESS) program.

C. Programmatic Data Reporting

All programs must report demographic and service information on program participants to The Trust. In addition, funded providers must furnish The Trust with complete and accurate reports in the timeframe and format to be reasonably specified by The Trust.

D. Program and Professional Development

Funded applicants are expected to participate fully in all Trust-sponsored program and professional development supports as required by each initiative; for details visit the Program Metrics section of the website.

E. Cross-Program Collaboration and Community Connections

In line with the mission of The Trust, an intrinsic value is placed on collaboration among community organizations in support of children and families. Across all initiatives, cross-collaborative strategies are intended to build upon established relationships and create new relationships with community organizations that support child and family needs. The Trust expects funded programs to serve as gateways to other needed services that are not directly provided by their respective programs. Successful applicants should demonstrate services will not be performed in isolation but, rather, connected within the community in light of existing programs, initiatives, systems of care and identified community needs.

F. Fiscal Soundness

The Trust seeks to fund projects that are operated by fiscally sustainable agencies with sufficient operating funds on hand or available in reserves, to cover all expenses associated with services provided. At minimum, agencies should maintain sufficient funds (working capital) to cover two months' worth of expenses at any given time during their contract period. Thus, all applicants must include a copy of the following required information with their application:

  • An applicant’s most recent annual financial statement audit, performed by a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm that is licensed and registered to conduct business with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation; in addition, the most recent annual financial statement audit must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and standards contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and
  • Written communication encompassing the requirements of Government Auditing Standards and AU-C 265, which includes an “Independent Auditors’ Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards.”

The most recent annual financial statement audit is defined as the audit for the applicant’s most recent fiscal year end, while allowing 180 days after the applicant’s fiscal year closes to complete the annual financial statement audit. For example, if an applicant’s fiscal year ends on December 31, then on July 1 of the following year, the most recent annual financial statement audit required for this application would be the annual financial statement audit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20XX. The fiscal year end date of the submitted audited financial statements should not be greater than 545 days prior to the application submission date.

Based upon The Trust’s review of an applicant’s fiscal soundness, The Trust reserves the right to either refuse to fund an applicant or to withdraw any contract award with agencies that are unable to demonstrate minimum fiscal standards.

G. Method of Payment

The Trust generally uses a cost reimbursement method of payment for direct service contracts. Funded applicants will be paid in accordance with the approved budget after expenses are incurred. Funded providers also agree to pay their subcontractors, vendors and employees for the fulfillment of services provided on a timely basis. The Trust expects that all funded applicants maintain sufficient funds in the amount of at least 15% of their operating budget. Adequate working capital is considered a best practice and is necessary when managing a cost reimbursement contract. Funded providers are expected to possess the funds necessary to cover initial program expenses, and then request reimbursement from The Trust. These procedures require adequate fiscal health and soundness, which are demonstrated within the disclosures of the financial statement audit that must be submitted alongside the application (see Section F. Fiscal Soundness).

H. Match Funding

Because the need and demand for services and programs inevitably exceeds the amount of funding available, all applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of leveraged funds from other sources and the use of complementary resources when preparing a funding request. Match funding or cost sharing is not a requirement, but it is a desirable attribute that The Trust encourages when funding services and programs. Some initiatives require a minimum match, which is described in the specific grant opportunity.

I. Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA)

The Trust has entered into agreements with two (2) Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) to fund programs within the City of Miami Omni CRA and the City of Miami Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA, respectively. The amount of CRA funding in each area varies each year and is not required to come from any particular Trust-funded initiative, but rather, in the aggregate, must meet the agreed upon amounts annually, per CRA. The Trust regularly monitors the value of funded services provided within the CRAs to ensure The Trust meets its CRA agreements. The two (2) City of Miami CRA investment areas include portions of zip codes 33127, 33128, 33132 and 33136. Please refer to the maps for the specific geographic boundaries of each CRA investment area described here. All funding for this solicitation is contingent upon the availability of funds.